Vinyl Siding Variations

Stucco has been used in home construction for centuries. Made of a mixture of sand, cement and water, stucco is an extremely durable building material and is capable of standing up to extremes of weather and temperature. An exterior stucco surface has the advantage of also being eco-friendly, having very little impact on the surrounding environment. However, one drawback to stucco is that it is extremely porous, making painting rather difficult. Fortunately, the following steps will show you how to get around this and end up with a beautifully painted stucco exterior.

Warning: Keep in mind that if you have newly applied stucco on your home's exterior, it generally has to cure for at least three months before you paint it.

What You Will Need

Paint Sprayer

Power Washer

Acrylic-Based Paint

Acrylic Latex Caulk

Step 1. Use a power washer to spray your exterior stucco so as to remove any dirt or debris. Don't use the maximum setting on the power washer, since you don't want to damage the stucco. Make sure that you get in all the cracks and crevices of the stucco, since it has to be clean for the paint you're going to apply to properly adhere.

Note: Choose a dry day in the fall to paint exterior stucco.

Step 2. Wait as long as it takes for the stucco to completely dry. Trying to paint on a wet surface will result in a terrible paint job.

Step 3. Examine the stucco closely for any cracks that might have appeared over the years. If you see any, use an acrylic latex caulk to fill all of these cracks. Allow the caulk to dry according to the manufacturer's directions.

Step 4. Choose an acrylic-based paint that fits well with the decor of your home. Do not use an oil-based paint, since this will not allow the stucco to breathe and will result in a buildup of moisture within the stucco.

Step 5. Fill a paint sprayer with the paint you have chosen and spray one coat of this paint across the stucco. Use a back-and-forth motion in which you overlap the paint. After the first coat has completely dried, you might want to add a second coat.

Note: While you could use a roller brush or paintbrush to paint your home's exterior stucco, this can take a lot of time and be very difficult, since you will have to get paint into all the little crevices.

About Me

Are you tired of painting your home’s exterior every year or so? I was. It’s expensive to hire painters, and I’m getting too old to do it myself. That’s why I decided to have vinyl siding installed on the outside of my home.
It was a great choice. The color never fades, and it’s easy to clean. You can even choose insulated vinyl siding if you want to make sure that your home’s energy bill gets a boost from your siding choice.
I started this blog to talk about the benefits and drawbacks of vinyl siding, how to tell if it’s right for your home, and how to maintain it. You may be surprised to find that vinyl siding is the right choice for you.